Luka Modric, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest midfielders, delivered a sharp rebuke to English journalists and pundits following Croatia’s dramatic victory over England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final. His comments, accusing the English media of ‘arrogance’ and underestimating Croatia, ignited a debate that continues to resonate years later, drawing a swift dismissal from former Manchester United captain and pundit Gary Neville.

The 2018 semi-final saw Croatia overcome England 2-1 in extra-time, a remarkable feat given they had been taken to extra-time in their two previous knockout ties. Modric, who spent four years in the English top flight, was pivotal in the victory, recording impressive statistics:

• Minutes Played: 118

• Touches: 86

• Passes: 71

• Pass Completion: 87%

• Chances Created: 2

• Tackles: 2

Speaking after the match, a jubilant Modric did not hold back, directly addressing the pre-match narrative. “People were talking, especially English journalists and pundits from television. They underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake,” Modric stated in a post-match interview. Croatia’s journey culminated in a second-placed finish in the tournament, with Modric himself going on to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Neville disputes Modric’s motivation

Modric’s pointed remarks, particularly concerning the popular ‘It’s Coming Home’ anthem, were met with skepticism by Gary Neville. Speaking on ITV, Neville, an English pundit, expressed his disbelief that such external factors could genuinely influence a player during a high-stakes match.

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“I don’t believe it for one second. I think he’s come out after the game having won and thought, ‘I’m going to have a dig’ and obviously he was in a position to do that,” Neville asserted. He further questioned the idea, adding, “He’s a great player but I don’t believe for any minute of that game he was ever thinking about the English media, what the English media had said, what any pundit had said. Why would you? No player ever thinks like that during a match.” A video of Modric’s comments and Neville’s response is available on YouTube.

Modric clarifies his stance years later

The topic resurfaced three years later, ahead of a Euro 2021 clash between England and Croatia at Wembley Stadium. Modric, then 40, clarified that his initial comments were not aimed at his fellow professionals but rather at those in the media. “We said how we felt at the World Cup and that is it, we don’t need to go back and talk about this. That is it, it is finished. This is a new game and we don’t need to look back and make more comments about it,” Modric told reporters, as reported by GiveMeSport.

He added, “I don’t want to change what we said because we felt that way. But no matter, between players and teams, it is huge respect. We respect England, they respect us. We never meant it about players and coaches, I mean people around England,” a sentiment also echoed by the Daily Mail.

The exchange highlighted the fine line between pre-match confidence and perceived disrespect, a narrative often fueled by media and fan culture in major international tournaments.

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